Is Kimora Lee Simmons Out At Baby Phat Because She's Too Expensive To Airbrush?

Late last week, Kimora Lee Simmons Tweeted that she was leaving her job as Creative Director at Baby Phat and Page Six might have uncovered why. According to a Baby Phat insider, "Kimora was going over-budget. She'd pay herself a fee to be in the ads, plus she paid her children fees to appear in ads. It costs thousands of dollars to airbrush her because she's a size 10. Plus, they spent a ton of money on body doubles. They would shoot another model in the clothes, and take Kimora's head and put in on her body."

In April, Jezebel matched Kimora's body in her "Dare Me" perfume ad to that of Daria Werbowy on French Vogue's March 2005 cover. Neither Kimora nor her lawyers have commented on the current situation but she did Tweet:

Exaactly!--->RT @ShiGyrl: @OfficialKimora - Oh whatever, they r just jealous!! If it costs thousands of dollars to airbrush then u need to hire me!! Ha!!

Kimora hasn't given a specific reason for her split with Baby Phat, which is owned by Kellwood. She typed, "No I did not quit. But it is over!" and fielded questions from fans like:

Q: Why r u leaving? Can we get a reason? A: At this time I must decline to comment

Q: Are u still going to do the fabulosity brand?!
A: Absolutely!

Q: Are yuh leaving PHAT fashions because of [your ex Russell Simmons]??
A: He and I BOTH are OUT!

Comments

[LiberalBuzz]

02:05 PM on 08/29/2010

A couple of weeks ago, I watched a few minutes of her show and as with most reality shows it really was abysmal but mostly I was surprised at how heavy she was since all the photos I have ever seen showed her much more slender.

NOW I know why.

She might be a "real" woman (whatever that is) but she is also a phony. AND all of her conversations revolve around price tags.

[suemj]

08:08 AM on 08/29/2010

Although I didn't particularly care for how she acted, I do think that a lot of her outrageousness was for the cameras and her show to make it more interesting and watchable. But a lot of her complaining is a turnoff for many. We have to also understand that Russell was much older than her, and has always been much more mature than her, and calm since his Yoga and Buddhist-type teachings. Although I can't see anyone else taking over Baby Phat, whatever she does, for the sake of her children, I do wish her well.

[Balzac]

01:24 PM on 08/28/2010

I don't get the point of making her appear as if she's as slender as she used to be. She's a woman, not a girl. Maybe she's not a good creative director, because she's lost sight of her own beauty. I like her the way she is, not the Photoshopped fantasy version of her.

[Libby Hampel]

06:07 PM on 08/27/2010

She's a piece of work.

[DawnK]

05:15 PM on 08/27/2010

Maybe the clothes will improve. Baby Phat clothes for the most part are extremely tacky. I've only seen them at Marshall's and TJ Maxx though. Do they sell them anywhere else? Kind of like the Dereon brand. Only at Marshall's and TJ Maxx.

[MaeBayB]

05:51 AM on 08/29/2010

Agreed....but, Baby Phat is sold in major department stores as well...

[suemj]

08:43 AM on 08/29/2010

That's always been the look she was going for: Edgy, and for the "round-the-way girls" in the "hood". She said that she was designing for them, and would not change that look.

[Chimichurri]

04:50 PM on 08/27/2010

For richer or for richer is what she said while reciting her vows to Russel Simmons. She giggled as if what she had just said was so charming. I kid you not.

I'm glad she got dumped. Kimora is a tacky egomaniacal parasite and it's long overdue that someone put her nonsense in check. Although, she is the face and essence of Baby Phat. This move suggests the jig is up. The money spigot has been turned off and now it's time to stop pretending this label does any business outside of deep discount stores and relegate it to where it really belongs, piled in a box at a garage sale. Russel was smart enough to get out while the gettin was good.

[suemj]

08:46 AM on 08/29/2010

She's also acting more outrageous for the cameras. You know they always encourage those reality show actors to act out more for better ratings, although it's easier for her to do because she's like that somewhat already.

[Internationalopinion]

02:00 PM on 08/27/2010

She is a joke and disgusting! She is everything what's wrong with fame and celebrity and money!

[DrSnuggles]

12:12 PM on 08/27/2010

If and I say IF she was using a body double then it seems that it's only fair she shouldn't be modelling.

[dora rice]

11:44 AM on 08/27/2010

why should she and her children model for free? no one else is doing it. And why do magazines have to lie and airbrush in the first place.....no wonder we don't buy the magazines...

[DawnK]

04:59 PM on 08/27/2010

Do you really think Kimora Lee would let a photo of her untouched go out into the public?

[k6007]

10:02 AM on 08/27/2010

BP was simply awful! I was So glad when my daughter aged out of that fad. You barely made it out of the store before the seams began to split and the Zippers broke.

[djnc]

08:54 AM on 08/27/2010

she is one of the most awful human beings I've ever seen...simply the most narcissistic person to ever exist, hands down

[berserk]

09:05 AM on 08/27/2010

wow russell....you need to keep that to yourself.

[Deparis]

10:26 AM on 08/27/2010

LOL...

[sweetwhine]

09:27 AM on 08/27/2010

BS! You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.

[eri 68]

07:53 AM on 08/27/2010

I can accept the expensive photoshopping claim. I've seen untouched, candid shots of Kimora and while she is still very pretty she looks unrecognizable next to print ads of herself. She's hardly the only one that could apply to though.

I thought she 'was' Baby Phat though, I didn't realize she just worked for the company.

[1jadednewyorker]

08:58 AM on 08/27/2010

At one pt she and hubby own it. But sadly sold it to Kellwood. The couple remain on the dole for "creative purposes" and then they were canned.

But for so many folks that buy that brand they are inded a piece of Kimora's lifestyle. Whatever the problem surely Kellwood should have been able to handle the expenses. This is just not good press.

[sweetwhine]

09:27 AM on 08/27/2010

I too thought Kimora was Baby Phat. How sad.

[suemj]

08:50 AM on 08/29/2010

Well, that was foolish of them to fire Kimora alltogether; As she was Baby Phat, and I can't see the company running without some mention of her or Russell's name.

[Savojah]

04:10 AM on 08/27/2010

She sucks so much.

[autistichelper]

11:41 PM on 08/26/2010

Well Kimora was always way into herself. She has style and demands certain things and if they can't give it to her then she needs to go. I know she will find somewhere else.

[1jadednewyorker]

09:04 AM on 08/27/2010

What supermodel is not into herself...Do you think you can get to the pinnacle of an industry and not be super selfish...specially as a woman?

The people that are at the top of their game have handlers to handle nasty desicisions. She just allow the public to view her up close and personal by doing the reality show. These shows are usually the death of many relationships and business ventures. Recall Whitney Houston show...the public got the impression she was never the "princess' we were led to believe in..


my pt is never never accept a wealthy person public image...it is usually a lie. Having been a personal assistant/executive asst to a CEO these weatlthy people craft their public image very carefully. And the public believe every bit of it. Behind closed doors most if not all are god-awful individuals..money and a great deal of money brings out the worst in us.

[Cakey4814]

11:35 AM on 08/27/2010

You ain't never lied..after watching a couple of episodes of Whitney in Being Bobby Brown I was like "wow"..it wasn't all Bobby..

[WichitaDem]

10:35 PM on 08/26/2010

From a purely creative standpoint, I'd say it's because the Baby Phat clothing line is not what moms are looking for right now. I'm a mom. The economy is in the toilet, and I'm trying to save $$$. Baby Phat is not reasonably priced or, IMO, practically designed. I want things that won't be dated in one season and that can be passed down from kid to kid; classic designs. BP is too trendy. So, that plus the fact that Ms. Simmons must cost the company a pretty penny = a different Creative Director.

[1jadednewyorker]

09:08 AM on 08/27/2010

...not true...maybe in your part of the country...perhaps you live in the suburbs?

[laaambchop]

10:33 AM on 08/27/2010

and probably not jaded...

signed,

a transplant who has been all over the country

[Cakey4814]

12:49 PM on 08/27/2010

Are you in Kansas because here in GA you can get good bargains on her clothes even at Macy's. This last christmas my nieces loved auntie because I got some good bargains on Baby Phat without breaking the bank.

[Melinda McElvaine]

10:46 PM on 09/14/2010

I agree. The price point in the midwest is pretty high, while in the south (Georgia and Florida) you can find many name brands for reasonable prices, if not cheap. I too bought loads of BP jeans, Tees and dresses for my granddaughter. I too bought her Hello Kitty and other great brands and you can say I literally got away with purchasing murder.